What are the advantages of electrically powered model aircraft compared to Internal Combustion (IC) engine powered model aircraft?

1. Noise.
The leading reason why model flying clubs lose their flying facilities is complaints about noise pollution. Internal combustion means controlled explosions are rapidly occurring within an engine and muffling the explosions is very difficult to achieve without affecting engine performance. Electric motors create very little noise even at maximum revolutions. Small electric model RC aircraft may be flown in urban parks and in gymnasiums without causing a disturbance due to noise. The same cannot be said for (IC) powered models.

2. Consistency.
Electric motors when supplied with a set amount of electric current will produce very stable output results. Air pressure, air temperature and relative humidity have more effect on (IC) engine settings.

3. Reliability.
This attribute relates to most of the other advantages listed here. Simply put, it means if you apply an electric current to an electric motor 10,000 different times, it will, with great probability, operate each time.

4. Maintenance.
Electric motors have very few moving parts. There are only minimal contact points to produce friction so lubrication is not a major concern. An (IC) engine must be lubricated at all times of operation. The lubricant for model (IC) engines is mixed into the fuel and expelled after the fuel is burned which can cause an oily mess.

5. Vibration.
Because electric motors have only a few moving parts and rotate along the same axis as the direction of flight very little vibration is produced. Internal combustion engines use a piston pushed by explosions, which changes direction (180 degrees) every rotation of the crankshaft and at a 90-degree angle to the direction of flight. These forces create vibrations as a by-product. Models have to be constructed to withstand the vibrations. This usually means more designing, building and materials are required.

6. Efficiency.
If efficiency is measured by how much potential energy is input into a motor and how much is produced by the motor afterwards, then electric motors easily win the contest. Internal combustion engines operate at typical efficiencies of 55% the rest of the energy is used to create heat. Electric motors with carbon brushes operate at efficiencies of 67% and electric brush-less motors operate at 90% efficiency.

7. Versatility.
Without very much modification electric motors can be used in different flying model applications such as: sport flying, aerobatics, racing, helicopters, ducted fan jets, scale, float planes and micro size aircraft.

8. Miscellaneous notes.
Electric motors can be easily geared to swing large propellers. (IC) engines are more difficult to gear and require more specialized materials and clutch systems. Because electricity maybe obtained from different sources such as your electric utility, gas generators, solar cells, wind generators and the emerging field of fuel cell generators, it is less restricted in distribution and can be generated from renewable sources.